Why are mushrooms psychedelic?

Psychedelic Mushrooms and Psilocybin

There are many species of mushrooms that contain psychedelic compounds. In Oregon, however, there is only one species of psychedelic mushroom that is legal to use in the regulated market. This species, Psilocybe cubensis, is the most widely used psychedelic mushroom and the one that people picture when they think of “shrooms.”

Psilocybe cubensis, aka “shrooms.”

What makes shrooms psychedelic?

There are many compounds present in shrooms that make them psychedelic, but the primary psychedelic compound is “psilocybin.” You can think of this like THC in weed.

There are other minor compounds present (just like CBD and CBG in weed) that may affect the experience, but there is not enough scientific research yet to say for sure.  

Why is psilocybin a psychedelic?

To understand why, first we need to understand what a psychedelic is. The effects of a psychedelic are due to the stimulation of serotonin receptors. Serotonin receptors are stimulated when serotonin (or something that looks like serotonin) binds to the receptor. When a receptor is stimulated, it tells certain parts of your brain to activate.

Your body naturally produces a small amount of serotonin to lightly stimulate your brain to understand its surroundings. When there is a flood of serotonin (or chemicals that look like serotonin), these receptors are overstimulated, creating an enhanced or warped sense of reality. When these parts of your brain are highly activated, it may make colors seem more vibrant, time to move more slowly or quickly, an elevation in mood, or a change in how you think about yourself. That’s the psychedelic experience!

So, does psilocybin stimulate these receptors?

Kind of. Psilocybin does closely resemble serotonin, but not close enough for it to bond with serotonin receptors. When digested by your stomach acid, however, psilocybin degrades into a compound called “psilocin.” This compound does closely resemble serotonin (see below) and easily bonds with serotonin receptors.

When you have a lot of psilocin in your body, your receptors are being overstimulated, causing your brain to activate more than usual.

Serotonin

Serotonin (/ˌsɛrəˈtoʊnɪn, ˌsɪərə-/) or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Its biological function is complex, touching on diverse functions including mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and numerous physiological processes such as vomiting and vasoconstriction.

Psilocybin

Psilocybin, also known as 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-PO-DMT), is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms. Effects include euphoria, hallucinations, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time, and perceived spiritual experiences.

Psilocin

Psilocin, also known as 4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-OH-DMT), is a substituted tryptamine alkaloid and a serotonergic psychedelic. It is present in most psychedelic mushrooms together with its phosphorylated counterpart psilocybin. Psilocybin, as well as synthetic esters such as 4-AcO-DMT (psilacetin; O-acetylpsilocin) and 4-PrO-DMT (O-propionylpsilocin), are prodrugs of psilocin.

And that’s the psychedelic experience!

To summarize, when you eat shrooms, you’re eating mushrooms that contain psilocybin. Your body converts psilocybin to psilocin. Psilocin binds with your serotonin receptors. These receptors tell parts of your brain to be more active. This changes how you physically and mentally perceive your surroundings and yourself.